GRAYSHOTT parents left “devastated” by the announcement that village nursery Little Sunflowers will close in July 2018, are racing against the clock to reverse the decision.

There were big celebrations when the long-running pre-school, a registered charity based in the village hall, celebrated being at the heart of the community for 50 years, in May, with a big party and display of historic photos and memorabilia.

But last week, its trustees announced ‘with great regret’ that due to rising costs and a drop in numbers, Little Sunflowers would close at the end of the 2018 summer term.

Supporters fighting the closure are appealing for more children to be enrolled by Christmas to secure the nursery’s future, or for a benefactor to step in to help fund the charity’s shortfall.

Explaining the decision, charity trustees Sarah Field, Ruth Glenister, and Sue Campbell told The Herald: “In recent years we have experienced rising costs in terms of rent, salaries and other expenditure. With the advent of yet another rise in minimum wages next year and the workplace pensions scheme we expect a steep rise in our spending.

“The funding provided by the Government will not be increasing sufficiently to bridge this gap and we have also had a sharp decline in the numbers of children starting.

“To address the financial imbalance, we would need to attract greater numbers of children than we have been attracting in recent years and, as a charity, have a limited budget to achieve this.

“It is our belief local demand is not high enough given there are so many other childcare options in the area that accept the Government childcare funding, most of which are commercial businesses rather than registered charities.

“At present we have only four children that will not be going on to school in September, and making this decision now will limit the potential impact on local families.

“It also means the staff, who are fully supportive and intend on staying throughout the final year, will have plenty of notice to plan for their future.

“It is with great regret that we make this announcement but until July 2018 we will continue to provide the best care, as we always have. It has been a pleasure and an honour to serve within this community for the last 50 years.

“We look forward to making this a memorable year.”

Little Sunflowers, supported by five staff members and one part-time volunteer, offers flexible weekday opening hours for children aged two to five years to tie in with school drop-off and pick-up times and was rated “good” in all areas in its last Ofsted report in 2015.

Parent Sophie Greeff, whose three-year-old son is at the nursery, is one of many supporters hoping to get more children signed up, or to find a benefactor to prevent its closure.

She said: “The trustees and staff had a big meeting and have come to the conclusion that if they do not get enough children for 17 to still be at the nursery by September 2018, they will have to close in July.

“As a parent of a child who currently goes and with a daughter who would be starting in September, I am devastated the pre-school could be closing.

“A local charity with incredibly hard-working staff who only have the children’s best interests at heart, which has had more than 1,000 children through its doors over the last 50 years, it would be devastating for it to close.

“As parents we are trying everything we can to try and make sure the nursery stays open.Unless Little Sunflowers have the uptake secured by Christmas, its is a foregone conclusion it will close in July.”